Optimal nutrition: fibre and phytochemicals

Fibre and enteral nutrition

Clinical experience during the last decade has confirmed that enteral nutrition is an efficient and cost effective means of providing nutritional support to patients with normal or near normal gastrointestinal function.' Before and during this period the knowledge gained of the processes involved in the physiology of nutrient absorption has been applied to the formulation of enteral diets and i...

Antioxidant Phytochemicals at the Pharma-Nutrition Interface

Contributions of Nonvolatile Phytochemicals to Nutrition and Flavor

Small fruit are rich in several types of phytochemicals, vitamins, and minerals. These compounds have health functional properties that may protect humans from cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. Several of these phytochemicals, such as dietary fiber, anthocyanins, and polyphenolics, also contribute to small fruit quality. Other components contribute to appearance and taste. Nonvolatile...

Optimal nutrition: vitamin E.

Interest in the role of vitamin E in disease prevention has encouraged the search for reliable indices of vitamin E status. Most studies in human subjects make use of static markers, usually alpha-tocopherol concentrations in plasma or serum. Plasma or serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations of < 11.6, 11.6-16.2, and > 16.2 mumol/l are normally regarded as indicating deficient, low and acceptable...

Enteral nutrition preference in critical care: fibre-enriched or fibre-free?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES This study's main aim was to observe the effects of a fibre-enriched nutrition solution on requisite feeding volume, which is directly proportional to energy intake in mechanically ventilated patients with enteral nutrition. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN Some 120 patients who required mechanical ventilation and enteral nutrition with a nasogastric tube were studied. Upon ...